1.
GV Jet on tarmac
0.06

2.
LV Control tower
0.10

3.
SV Airport officials & Japanese
0.16

4.
SCU Arab Emirate minister
0.19

5.
CU Ditto
0.24

6.
SCU Control panel and telephones (2 shots)
0.32

7.
GV Jet on tarmac from control tower
0.35

8.
SV Prime Minister looks thorough binoculars
0.38

9.
GV Jet on tarmac
0.45

10.
SCU Mr. Asada, Chairman of J.A.L.
0.53

11.
CU Prime Minister
0.56

12.
SV Mr. Asada
1.07

13.
GV Jet on tarmac
1.12

14.
SV Walkie talkie radio
1.14

15.
SV Defence Minister
1.22

16.
GV Jet on tarmac
1.26

17.
SV Defence Minister
1.33

18.
SV Japanese officials
1.38

19.
GV Jet on tarmac
1.44

20.
SV PAN Japanese and Dubai officials in control tower
1.54


"If you intend to kill the passengers on board of Jumbo 444 do it at once, otherwise be human enough to release them. Stop. Roger so far.



"It sounds ridiculous if you permit those who you obviously want to kill to receive refreshments and meals. Roger so far.



"Please give up your intentions. There are other means of unbloody possibilities to reach you political aims. Stop. Roger so far.



"I say again the last part of message. Please give up your intentions. There are other means of unbloody possibilities to reach your political aims. Roger so far."




Initials BB/0456 RS/BOB/BB/0517



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The Japanese Jumbo airliner with hijackers and 140 hostages on board landed at Damascus just before midnight (GMT) on Monday (July 23), after a dramatic flight from Dubai where it had sat on the airport runway for three days.

Before leaving the hijackers took on board a coffin containing the body of a woman comrade killed by an exploding grenade.

Reports say the hijacked plane was followed to Damascus by Israeli fighters. When the aircraft touched down no-one was allowed to approach it.

It had seemed for several hours on Monday evening that the aircraft was preparing to leave Dubai.

The hijackers threatened to blow it up unless it was refuelled. Immediately two red and white tankers drove to the aircraft and began pumping fuel aboard the plane.

Earlier on Monday a new mystery developed when the Dubai Airport Control Tower received a message apparently sent from West Germany urging the hijackers to either kill their hostages or set them free. Dubai officials did not comment on the message, but there was speculation it might be a coded order to the hijackers. They had said during attempts at negotiations that they were awaiting instructions from "headquarters".

The President of Japan Airlines, Mr. Shizuo Asada who has been in the control tower at Dubai Airport told reporters that a good relationship had developed between the hijackers and the United Arab Emirates Defence Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktum.

The hijackers expressed their appreciation on Monday when the defence Minister asked about their welfare.

Food, water and equipment have been loaded aboard the grounded airliner at regular intervals.

There are believed to be five hijacks. They say they belong to a pro Palestinian organisation calling itself "Sons of Occupied Territory". But they have been disowned by all the main Palestine Guerrilla organisations.

Exclusive film of the UAE Prime Minister and Defence Minister with the Japan Airlines President in the Dubai Airport Control Tower is overlaid with the message to the hijackers.

An alternative commentary is provided.